Florida woman accused of smuggling drugs in private parts into jail faces murder charge

Inmate fatally overdosed on heroin mixed with fentanyl, deputies say

Jennifer Lane Patrick, Lorraine Gardner and Scott Derringer

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A woman accused of smuggling heroin in her vagina is facing a first-degree murder charge after a fellow inmate fatally overdosed on the drugs, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said Jeniffer Lane Patrick, 24, had a mix of heroin and fentanyl inside her body when she was arrested Sept. 7 on multiple drug-related charges. The drugs were not found during a strip search or body scan for contraband, according to a news release.

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When Patrick was placed in a cell with Lorraine Gardner, 22, she retrieved the drugs and handed them to Gardner, who then held them up to her face, surveillance video showed.

Deputies said Gardner immediately began showing signs of physical distress. Jail staff and medics attempted to resuscitate her, but ultimately, Gardner died of what was later ruled an overdose due to drug toxicity from a mix of heroin, fentanyl and valeryl fentanyl, the report said.

The detective investigating the fatal overdose discovered Patrick had smuggled the drugs into the jail, so he reviewed phone calls between Patrick and her boyfriend, Scott Derringer, during which they both made incriminating statements, according to a news release.

Patrick was charged with smuggling contraband into a detention facility, possession of heroin and first-degree murder. Derringer is facing a charge of solicitation to possess fentanyl.


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